Prairie View football: Q&A with kicker Brady Faggard

A reader brought to my attention that this blog has lately been flooded with updates on Prairie View A&M, with the other four area colleges (Texas Southern, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin and Texas State) being shut out. Considering that the last six entries have Prairie View in their titles, I would say the reader is quite right.

Unfortunately, today’s entry will also discuss the Prairie View football team, but I will try to post more on the other schools after this one. My next entry will either be an update on the TSU athletic program from athletic director Charles McClelland (provided that I can get an interview) or a look at the area’s quarterbacks. I also have a Q&A with SFA quarterback Jeremy Moses that I might post.

Either way, this will be my last post for this week. I’ll be out of town for the next two days, and I have other work to tend to when I return.

For today, enjoy this Q&A with Prairie View A&M sophomore kicker Brady Faggard, who made five of eight field goals and 22 of 27 extra points last season. When I caught up with Faggard on the practice field Aug. 14, he was locked in a battle for the placekicking duties with redshirt freshman Kyle Mathews.

Here’s our conversation:

RT: How does it feel to be in competition with Kyle after being the starting kicker last season?

BF: Well, competition makes anybody’s game rise higher and betters their ability. With me, it’s making me work harder. I’m going out after practice, hitting more balls and making sure that I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing to make sure that I keep my spot as a starter. Every position’s always open. If you’re messing up, your spot’s gone. I’m using that competition to push me and make me a better player so I can keep that spot.

RT: Talk about it felt being a part of Prairie View’s first winning season since 1976. After all, special teams played a big role in what you guys did.

BF: Even coming in as a true freshman, that’s kind of like coming from off the training wheels on a bike; you’re right there on your own. For kickers, at least for me, kicking off the ground is a whole new step for me (after) using a block in high school. That just gave me more incentive. I started doing that the beginning of my senior year (of high school) and that escalated, and I just kept working at it and working at it. With God looking above me, I got that starting spot. Pedro Ventura came in and did the punting, and everybody did a great job last year. We were young, but overall in special teams, we’re probably tops in the SWAC, easily.

RT: How’s your range? Has it increased a little bit from last year?

BF: Yeah, it’s increased a few yards. I’ve hit up to 60 so far this year. It’s good between me and Pedro because Pedro can hit them long just like me, and he probably has about a yard or two (extra). It’s good because we’re all going out and pushing each other. It’s good competition between us; it helps each other out.

BF: It is a shorter range, but I’m glad he’s giving me competition this year. I’m going to keep working to keep that starting spot, so it’s going to be a fun year.

RT: I know kickers aren’t always thought highly of by their teammates. Do you feel as if you’re really a part of this team, or just some guy out here kicking field goals?

BF: I definitely feel like I’m a part of this team because I’m in there grinding and hitting the weights just like any other person. I’m at the top when we’re running. (Some) think the kickers run with the linemen, but I run with all the skill positions. Those are the fastest times there are, and I’m making the time just like they are. Pedro’s just like me. We work hard in the weight room and out here on the field. I definitely see myself as another member of the team and not just a kicker. I see myself as an athlete.

RT: Now, the term “skilled position” is kind of funny because kickers have a unique skill, but they’re not considered skilled-position players. What do you have to say about that?

BF: Most people who play at the second level understand that kicking is not easy. Kicking and punting has a lot of technique to them. Some normal guy couldn’t just come out here and kick the ball. It is a very skilled position. It takes a lot of practice and technique to do that.

RT: How many balls would you say you kick everyday?

BF: I’d say anywhere between 30 and 40 balls, including warm ups. I like to get my work in. I’ll stay after practice, like I’m doing today. I’ve got to get my work in to make myself even better for the team.

RT: What’s been the biggest difference you’ve noticed in your maturity from Year 1 to Year 2?

BF: I see myself not quite as a leader on this team, but as someone these freshman look up to, and kind of being comfortable in the order of things and how the season goes. I was a rookie last year, traveling to all these games. I’m not going to lie: It wears you down, even as a kicker, with those long 10-12 hour road trips. The mature thing to do is to get your sleep. They say kicking is 60 percent mental and 40 percent physical, but it’s a big mind game. I have to have a real mature state of mind to be able to travel, keep my body in shape and focus on the game.

RT: For the most part, you guys didn’t lose anybody. You return pretty much all the starters from last year’s team. Could you talk about the chance you guys have to do something no Prairie View team has done in a long time: win the SWAC championship.

BF: We have so many people back, and it’s not even funny. We’re going to have a few young players on the line, but the team camaraderie (makes) us like one big family. Even though they have us (predicted to finish) third in our division (SWAC Western), people know who we are now. They know we have pretty much everybody back. There’s no doubt in my mind that we’re going to be in that championship game. The competition that we give each other is such family-oriented that that helps us be so much more of a powerhouse. Everbody is together as one; there are no individuals on this team. With everybody back and as one family, we’re going to win the SWAC championship this year.

11 Responses

Tell the haters from TSU to quit crying. We enjoy stories about winning teams. Once TSU can win at least 2 games in a row, then they should get some press time. Obviously TSU wants to follow in the path of winners otherwise they would not have sought after PVs AD and baseball coach. I am very interested in learning more about the winners on PVs football team. I personally know how hard they’ve all worked and they derserve for the rest of the readers to get to know them.

Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin and Texas State has their own newspapers….tell the reader if they come from there to read those dailies…..they should provide better coverage since they are at the actual practice as opposed to the Chronicle reporting on something they are not going to….

and technically, SFA is closer to Shreveport than Houston anyway…

until the Chronicle decides to assign PV and TSU a full-time reporter like their counterparts in Houston, lets dominate the blog…

[Come now, Hbcu. Let’s be nice to those other schools. They deserve some extra coverage, too. Take Care and God Bless!–RT]

There’s some very talented QBs at the FCS level. I think the most overlooked of which is Jeremy Moses. He’s got some talent to do something special down the line. Can SFA start developing a program and move in the right direction? That is left to be seen.

On another note, what you hearing about HBU? Or any basketball teams from around the area? I know HBU has five home games against Div I teams — UT-Arlington, New Orleans, UW-Green Bay, Middle Tennessee and Northwestern State. Are they playing TSU? PV or SHSU?

SHSU has landed a home-and-home with Wright State.

[Johnny Bearkat, I admit that I’ve heard nothing new concerning HBU or the other basketball teams in the area. Sorry. Take care and God Bless!–RT]

I’m looking forward to a new and improved TSU football team this year. I’m sure you’ll get around to reporting on my guys, but I have to take this cheap shot at you. I’ve been a fan and supporter of football at HBCU’s for years and I have to tell you, the kicking is usually horrendous. I was at the Pine Bluff v Prairie View game a few years back and watched both teams go for 4th and long from the 30 yard line because they were out of FG range. I hope this kid is better than the kickers I’m used to seeing.

Anyway, I’m looking forward to your next article about TSU.

[My apologies for the wait. I have a Q&A from TSU athletic director Charles McClelland that I’ll try to have on the blog by Friday afternoon. Take Care and God Bless!–RT]

Thanks RT, I liked the article. I thought that PV really stepped up their kicking game in the last 4 years and they never get any love. I know the haters would rather see PV stay the laughing stock of the SWAC, but I think it is good for everyone that every team in the SWAC is competitive, where’s the fun in kicking a team while it’s down. Even though my blood runs purple and gold, I even hope TSU is competitive this year, I just hope they don’t get on track to win until after the Labor Day Classic, lol. Who ya rootin’ for? PVU!!!